--- title: My old phone is the best dash cam I own, and it uploads... description: An old Android phone can be repurposed into a fully functional dashcam using the Droid Dashcam app, which supports auto-recording triggers (charging or... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: My old phone is the best dash cam I own, and it uploads the clips when I get home | daily.dev og:description: An old Android phone can be repurposed into a fully functional dashcam using the Droid Dashcam app, which supports auto-recording triggers (charging or... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/CmmtZQXwK.png og:image:alt: My old phone is the best dash cam I own, and it uploads the clips when I get home og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # My old phone is the best dash cam I own, and it uploads the clips when I get home **[XDA Developers](https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers)** · 4 min read · 49 upvotes · 6 comments ## Summary An old Android phone can be repurposed into a fully functional dashcam using the Droid Dashcam app, which supports auto-recording triggers (charging or Bluetooth connection), overlays metadata like GPS, speed, and timestamps, and can sync footage automatically to a NAS over Wi-Fi via tools like Syncthing. This gives a hands-free, free dashcam setup using hardware already on hand, though a dedicated dashcam is still better suited for heat resistance and car installation. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### How can I turn an old Android phone into a dashcam that automatically records and backs up footage? Install the Droid Dashcam app, which can automatically start recording when the phone is plugged into power or connects via Bluetooth, so no manual start is needed each drive. It overlays date, time, GPS coordinates, speed, and optional vehicle registration data onto the footage. Use an FTP sync app or Syncthing to automatically transfer recordings to a NAS over Wi-Fi once you get home, avoiding cloud storage costs. _Developers building similar automation projects can find hands-on DIY writeups like this through daily.dev._ ### Why should I back up dashcam footage to a NAS instead of the cloud? Hours of 4K dashcam footage quickly fill up cloud storage plans, making a NAS a more practical destination for large video files. Syncing to a NAS over Wi-Fi using tools like Syncthing avoids ongoing cloud storage fees while still automatically backing up footage as soon as the phone connects to the home network. _Anyone weighing cloud versus local storage tradeoffs can track practical comparisons like this on daily.dev._ ## Community discussion Top comments from developers on daily.dev. **@lucas39** · 3 upvotes > Okay, but you have to manually unplug it and hide it every time you get out of the car, otherwise, someone’s going to smash your window to steal it one of these days. A dashcam has the advantage of being discreet and less likely to attract thieves. But it’s still a pretty good idea. **@sailaway33** · 1 upvotes > I use my old phone as a dash cam on my bike, since it's water resistant. So when I get rained on, it still works. It also has a battery life way better than any go pro. **@paulmarc** · 1 upvotes > Totally... It's a very powerful small computer with cameras and sensors... **@dimi3ryi** · 1 upvotes > - Manual chore (plug/unplug; verify that it really works) > - Limited memory (good luck recording an 8-hour drive) > - Easily breakable - regular cams tend to survive crashes and all that stuff; phones - not really **@superroach** · 0 upvotes > I'm sure it handles direct sunlight well with that lipo battery for hours at a time.. ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [I turned my old Android Phone into a dashcam, and it works better than the real thing](https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-my-old-android-phone-into-a-dashcam-and-it-works-better-than-the-real-thing-pnoylpmw6) · XDA Developers · 16 upvotes · 3 comments - [I turned my old phone into a security camera that saves to my home server for free](https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-my-old-phone-into-a-security-camera-that-saves-to-my-home-server-for-free-oklozzgdy) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [My old phone became a $200 webcam upgrade, and the setup took 10 minutes](https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-became-a-200-webcam-upgrade-and-the-setup-took-10-minutes-dnnv6agtx) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [My car's built-in navigation is useless, so I made Android Auto the only screen I use](https://daily.dev/posts/my-car-s-built-in-navigation-is-useless-so-i-made-android-auto-the-only-screen-i-use-34oftpca2) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [I turned my old Android phone into a useful dashboard diagnostic display in just 10 minutes](https://daily.dev/posts/i-turned-my-old-android-phone-into-a-useful-dashboard-diagnostic-display-in-just-10-minutes-dxt5rvtfk) · XDA Developers · 2 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#android](https://daily.dev/tags/android) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"My old phone is the best dash cam I own, and it uploads the clips when I get home","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk"},"datePublished":"2026-09-15T15:33:32.930Z","dateModified":"2026-09-15T15:36:18.906Z","description":"An old Android phone can be repurposed into a fully functional dashcam using the Droid Dashcam app, which supports auto-recording triggers (charging or...","image":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/48b878b1b38d68bca2852c1cbf3387ec?_a=AQAEuop","thumbnailUrl":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/48b878b1b38d68bca2852c1cbf3387ec?_a=AQAEuop","isAccessibleForFree":true,"articleSection":"XDA Developers","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180}},"author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"XDA Developers","logo":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--kCg6yyAP--/f_auto,q_auto/v1774964407/logos/xda-developers?_a=BAMAMiWQ0","url":"https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers"},"commentCount":6,"discussionUrl":"https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk","interactionStatistic":[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":49},{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"CommentAction"},"userInteractionCount":6}],"keywords":"android","timeRequired":"PT4M"} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://daily.dev"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"XDA Developers","item":"https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"My old phone is the best dash cam I own, and it uploads the clips when I get home"}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","text":"Okay, but you have to manually unplug it and hide it every time you get out of the car, otherwise, someone’s going to smash your window to steal it one of these days. A dashcam has the advantage of being discreet and less likely to attract thieves. But it’s still a pretty good idea.","datePublished":"2026-09-16T08:10:27.600Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/CmmtZQXwK#c-XuumNUSnP","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucas","url":"https://daily.dev/lucas39","image":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocIIUWuKYGCrhLQ9bRh_zl_uNxcdY4Gvvwc91aTGmSre6nyWEA=s96-c"},"interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":3}},{"@type":"Comment","text":"I use my old phone as a dash cam on my bike, since it’s water resistant. So when I get rained on, it still works. It also has a battery life way better than any go pro.","datePublished":"2026-09-15T18:52:02.096Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/CmmtZQXwK#c-Sqmb83VMg","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"andy","url":"https://daily.dev/sailaway33","image":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocJsGFEMnOM_PnsKa_W5y4X7w-K-4IsNAZNhfyX9afqeCFh6Ki4=s96-c"},"interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":1}},{"@type":"Comment","text":"Totally… It’s a very powerful small computer with cameras and sensors…","datePublished":"2026-09-16T04:24:11.688Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/CmmtZQXwK#c-QdXRthLGj","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"paulmarc","url":"https://daily.dev/paulmarc","image":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--yFutR-QN--/f_auto/v1737446314/avatars/avatar_iHStoImiuFyQFvwEddWek"},"interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":1}},{"@type":"Comment","text":"Manual chore (plug/unplug; verify that it really works)\nLimited memory (good luck recording an 8-hour drive)\nEasily breakable - regular cams tend to survive crashes and all that stuff; phones - not really","datePublished":"2026-09-16T13:02:02.086Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/CmmtZQXwK#c-CkDvX0Ux6","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Dmitryi Feschenko","url":"https://daily.dev/dimi3ryi","image":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/AOh14Gg_EOsM8ktwtfeM62CjToFvO33Mn2rJJ02rTCbK=s100"},"interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":1}},{"@type":"Comment","text":"I’m sure it handles direct sunlight well with that lipo battery for hours at a time…","datePublished":"2026-09-19T16:34:53.578Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/CmmtZQXwK#c-kmacVhi7R","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Brett","url":"https://daily.dev/superroach","image":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/63333?v=4"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/my-old-phone-is-the-best-dash-cam-i-own-and-it-uploads-the-clips-when-i-get-home-cmmtzqxwk#faq","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How can I turn an old Android phone into a dashcam that automatically records and backs up footage?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Install the Droid Dashcam app, which can automatically start recording when the phone is plugged into power or connects via Bluetooth, so no manual start is needed each drive. It overlays date, time, GPS coordinates, speed, and optional vehicle registration data onto the footage. Use an FTP sync app or Syncthing to automatically transfer recordings to a NAS over Wi-Fi once you get home, avoiding cloud storage costs. Developers building similar automation projects can find hands-on DIY writeups like this through daily.dev."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why should I back up dashcam footage to a NAS instead of the cloud?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Hours of 4K dashcam footage quickly fill up cloud storage plans, making a NAS a more practical destination for large video files. Syncing to a NAS over Wi-Fi using tools like Syncthing avoids ongoing cloud storage fees while still automatically backing up footage as soon as the phone connects to the home network. Anyone weighing cloud versus local storage tradeoffs can track practical comparisons like this on daily.dev."}}]} ```